Bucking the Rules(66)

“Hey, Jo.” He hopped up on the seat, grinning easily. Apparently for him, the entire incident with Trace was behind him. “How’s it going tonight?”

“Good. Great.” She forced a tight smile and got down a glass for water. “In for dinner?”

“Dinner and a drink. I’ll have a Bud to go with that water you’re pouring.” He smiled. “I’m in no hurry tonight.”

She pulled the beer and handed him the glass, waiting while he looked over the menu.

“What’s good tonight?”

“Salad.” She laughed a little at his grimace. “Try the bacon cheddar burger, if the thought of rabbit food hurts your manly sensibilities.”

“Sold.” He handed the menu back and waited while she entered the order in the computer system. “So how are things with you?”

“Good. Great.” She held back the wince when she realized that was the same answer she’d given already. And that raised brow of his told her he heard the falseness. “Just really busy right now, with the bar and all. Debating adding on another bartender.”

“You could use the break.” He paused, then asked, “Are people hassling you?”

“Hassling me?” She looked around the slow-but-steady dining room, full of calm patrons and low music. “No, why?”

“I mean about Trace.”

Oh, shit. Here it comes. “Why would they do that?” She grabbed a bar rag and started wiping down the bar again. I’ll refinish the damn thing if I have to.

“It’s just that Judy Plumber saw you two arguing at the Piggly Wiggly the other day, and she said—repeatedly, mind you—that it didn’t look like you were having a tussle about frozen entrée selection, if you know what I mean.”

He blushed at that. “The last part was her phrase. The ‘if you know what I mean’ bit. I wouldn’t say that.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t,” she murmured, staring for a moment across the bar until her vision blurred and all she saw were vague blotches of color moving around the room.

A touch on her hand brought her back. Jeff covered her hand with his.

“If there’s anything I can do, let me know. If you need me to talk to him, I can. If you two have broken up or anything, and he’s still bothering you, I—”

“Thanks.” She said it briskly, not wanting to discuss the situation. Why confirm to him she had zero idea whether they were broken up or not. A week ago, there was nothing to “break up.” Suddenly they were in a relationship, and now there was a kid. Poof. Insta-family.

The thought had her going clammy. She squeezed the back of her neck at a pressure point the chiropractor—Regina’s husband number four—had showed her until her vision stopped swimming. God, she had to stop thinking like that or she’d pass out.

“Jo?” Jeff stood up, started walking around the bar before she held up a hand.

“I’m fine. Just … got a little dizzy. That’s all.” A weak excuse, at best, but he seemed to buy it and sat down again. Concern didn’t leave his face though.

“So you two are … done. Right? I just assumed that was what the fight was over.”

God, not again. “It’s no big deal. Your burger will be out in a minute or so.” She turned toward the kitchen, but he caught her wrist as she walked by.

“Jo, come on. If he’s out of the picture, then why can’t we—”

“Because I don’t think about you like that.” Rip the bandage off, nice and clean. He wouldn’t take the gentle route, so time to cut cleanly. “Look, it’s not going to happen with us. Whether I’m with someone else or not has nothing to do with it. I’m begging you, stop thinking about it. It’s not a possibility, not even close. So don’t ask again, okay?”

She shook her head, so tired now of men and bullshit in general, and walked into the kitchen for a minute. “Stu, can you watch the bar for five? I need a break.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll deliver this burger while I’m there.” He headed out with Jeff’s plate and left her to a nearly-empty kitchen, her only company the busboy washing dishes in the corner. He didn’t even look up as she grabbed a bottle of water from the small fridge for the workers and headed out into the back alley for some air.

The male species were brain dead. It was the only explanation. They were all born idiots, and it was a female’s lot in life to knock sense into them, one brick at a time. God, what a tiring thought.

She gave herself four and a half minutes, then headed back inside. She plastered a fake smile on her lips, but when she pushed back into the bar from the kitchen, Jeff was gone. Next to his untouched plate was a twenty and the empty glass that had held his Bud. She prayed he hadn’t chugged it, but who knew. Then again, only one beer shouldn’t hit him that hard. With a sigh, she walked the plate into the kitchen and scraped the food into the trash.